 Ford coached South Africa between 1999 and 2001 |
Graham Ford has said he is "deeply honoured" but "aware of the huge challenge" after being confirmed as a candidate as India's new coach. Ford, currently at Kent, and Middlesex director of cricket John Emburey are both to be interviewed for the job.
"It's the biggest coaching challenge in cricket, it's daunting. But there's a lot of excitement," Ford told the BBC.
"The details are pretty unclear at this stage and I need to find out a lot more before making a decision."
Ford was previously national team coach in his native South Africa from 1999 to 2001, guiding them to nine series wins out of 11, with just two defeats against Australia.
 | I had a couple of exciting years at South Africa and I learnt a fair amount |
Ford was appointed as Kent's director of cricket in January 2005 and last year signed a contract extension tying him to the club until the end of the 2008 season.
But he has been given permission to talk to the India cricket board (BCCI) and is awaiting interview details to be finalised.
Ford added: "It all came out of the blue a little bit. I was contacted on Tuesday by [former India all-rounder] Ravi Shastri.
"I had a couple of exciting years at South Africa and I learnt a fair amount.
"Part of the appeal is to take on the biggest challenge and one has to start thinking about how one would handle all that pressure."
Ford added that if he did not take the job, former England spinner Emburey would be "a very good appointment".
Meanwhile, Kent chief executive Paul Millman has said he is determined to keep Ford at the club.
"The India job is one of most attractive in the world and if someone expresses an interest then it would be very tough to stand in their way," Millman told Kent Online.
"But we are going to do everything within our power to keep him at Kent. We are quite unhappy about the timing of this approach."
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